Air motor



.Furie 13, 1944. E w, GENTl 1 2,351,328

' AIR MOTOR Filed Feb. 28, 1942 2 sheets-Sheet 1 amm /Nl/ENTOR E. W Gli-'NT Hyg/MIM A TTORNEV June 13, 1944. E. W, GEN-|-l 2,351,328

AIR MOTOR Filed Feb. 28, 1942 2 Sheets-'Sheet 2 F/G.5 v

/NVENTOR E W GE N7' A 7' TORNE V Patented June 13, 1944 AIR MOTR Edgar w. Gent, Morristown, N. J., assignent Beil. i..

Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated N ew York, N. Y., a corporation of New York-p Application February as, 1942', serial No. 432,867

(ci. 25a-59) 7 Claims.

This invention relates to motors and more specifically to air motorsk of the turbine type.

'I'heobject of the invention is the provision of an air turbine which is particularly well adapted for use for example in pneumatic ticket distributing systems for actuating ticket receiving and dispatching apparatus while being cheap to manufacture, economical in upkeep and highly eicient in operation.

A feature of the invention is an air motor or turbine in which a casing serves as a mounting for a rotor wheel and for a peripherally notched whee1 disposed in coaxial relation to the rotor wheel, the notched Wheel serving to direct streams of air against fins at the periphery of the rotor wheel to cause its operation.

Another feature is the provision of means in the form of a gear mechanism for transmitting the movementpof the rotor wheel to a centrif ugal operating clutch device and thereby to a power take-olfy element.

Another feature is the provision of means in the form of va manually operating mechanism for adjusting the notched Wheel relative to the rotor wheel for compensating for variation in the velocity of the air entering the'casing of the turbine in order to secure la. substantially uniform operation of the rotor wheel and thaty of the apparatus actuated thereby, the operation of -the manually operable meansbeing effective to position a dial for indicating the adjustment of the notched wheel and the rotor wheel in relation to the pressure variation of the air operating the rotor wheel.

Other novel features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and by the claims appended thereto, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the turbine shown secured on a, mounting formedwith aV ticket receiving apparatus, the turbine being shown with a lnumber of operating parts partly in section;

Fig. 2 is a front view showing the clutching mechanism in section and with a number of operating parts with portions broken away to show the notched wheel adjusting mechanism more clearly; v

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a partial view showing the indicator wheel in the mounting and the manually Ioperable knob for actuating the adjustable wheel relative to kthe rotor wheel;

Fig. 5 is a modification of the air turbine sii-own in Fig. 1 showing tire;v 'normal operative relation of the rotor wheel andthe adjustable wheel;

Fig. 6 is a partial view showing meadjust-V able wheel in position for directin'gfthe stream of air at substantially '.45 degrees relativeto the fins ofthe rotor wheels: a' f Fig. Tis a View similarV to that'of Fig. 6 but showing the serrated wheel twisted for directing streamsof airpat substantially/ degrees to the fins of theV rotor wheel; A

Fig. 8 is a'partial vlewshowing the dial for indicating the angle of twist of the ladjustable wheel relative to the ns of 'the rotor wheel; and

Fig. 9` is a vertical sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig". 2.

The turbine of the invention, Figs. 1 and 2, consists of a circular casing I0 formed with an internally and centrally disposed bearing portion II provided for rotatably mounting a shaft I2 to one end of which is keyed a rotor wheel I3 and on the opposite end of this shaft is keyed a right-angle gear I4. This gear meshes with an angle gear I5 keyed on one end of a shaft I6 journaled in a bearing I1 formed with the casing I0. The 'gears I4 and I5 -are enclosed in a compartment formed with the casing I0 closed at its front end by a screw-threaded plug PL shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 45 and on the other end of shaft I6 as shown in Figs. 2 and 9 is mounted a centrifugally operating clutch' mechanism which will be hereinafter described in detail. A cover member I8 is` secured to the casing I0 by a 'plurality of screws I9, 20, 2l and 22 best seen in Fig. 2. Cover I8 is provided on one side thereof with a centrally dis'- posed tubing connection 23 and on the opposite side with a hub portion 24 coaxially disposedv relative to tubing connection 23. The hub portion 24 of cover I8 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 is provided at .its periphery with a so-called square screw thread -st for receiving the similarly screwthreaded centrally located opening'ina wheel 25'having a plurality of helically forced notches or serrations CI at -its peripheryas shown in Figs. 1 andv2 provided for `directing the air against the flns of rotor wheel I3, the` air passing through tubing connection 23l and entering the chamber formed by the cover I8, the casing I 0 and the wheel 25 through radial slots, TI, T2, T3 and T4 cut -through the wall of the screwthreaded hub` 24.

A cone member 26 shownl in Figs. 1 and 5-is secured at the end of hub 24 to assist in deecting theV air toward the periphery of wheel 25 while a flange or collar 21 formed with cone member 26 serves as a stop for the wheel 25 when rotated on the screw-threaded hub 24 as by the rotation of a worm screw 28 engaging the serrations CI of the wheel and keyed on one end of a rotatable shaft 29. This shaft is journaled in a bearing 30 formed integrally and tangentially to casing I0 and is provided at its opposite end with a knobl 3 I1 for' rotating the worm screw 28 and thereby the 'wheel 25 on the screwthreaded hub 24 for moving this wheel toward and away from the rotor WheelV I3 for adjusting the space relation between this wheel and the serrated wheel 25 for changing the speed ofthe rotor due to eddy air currents formed `by in-4 creasing the space relation between thesewheels.

The indicating 4wheel 33 is providedwith a plurality of equally spacedq laterallyextending studs 32 shown in Fig. 1 vmoim'ted for sliding movement in similarly sized holes in wheel 25, they indicating *wheel 33 beng held frictionally against' theqcover 18' by' a. p1ura11ty" of springs 34g mounted Ionthe studs 32 upon theY move.

'ment of wheell 25 toward andaway :fron'the rotor i'wh`eel l3.`` j A .A Y, v y An indicator wheel 33 'is'jprovidedfwitha scale in the f'rm of numerals to'fl01inclu`s`ive, arbitrarily chosen for indicating', thespace relation between the serratedvwl'ieelI 25 and rotorwheel I3, such vnumerals bein'gvisible through' a window 38 of transparent. material, such as Lucite, secured to casing 'lllby vafnumber of screws 39 as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

On the end of shaft I6 opposite Vgear, I5 is keyed a yokemember v34 shown in ,FigsL 2 and 9"pr`o` vided for mounting as on pivots. .c andrazl the weights w and wl disposed foriotation in a drum 35.formed"with a powertake-oi' member in the form of Ya V-'grooved pulley 36 -mounted for free rotationY on'the shaft lythis pulley being` held' against lateral movement by'a nut screw 3'Ien, gaging a similarly scri'ewlthread,ed` portion at the end of shaftIG. i In the operation ventio'nas shownin'lig'sf l, 2, ,3f and 4j the stream of air. entering tne'jt'ubmg connection lzs'pjasses through theLslots tl.' t2; "t3 'and`t4 tobe deviated by the corneal 4portieri of plug 26,l towards'. Vthe periphery of adjustable"t wheel 25' thence' vpassing through'thenotchesor'iserrations C I` for impinging at substantiallyrightangles against the flnsi of rotor wheel' I3 for 'rotating .the latter and thereby the shaft I6 through theengagement" ofY the right "angle, gears14andl5.' The operation of shaftl I6 causes the pivotal movement of weights w and wl carried kby yoke 34 due to centrifugal j force against the: inner periphery of drum 35' for'frietionally gripping thisjdrum and therebyvrotatin'g the pulley" 3 6 and a pulley 40 throughja belt B`for actuating, ,as in 'this exam-- ple, the rollers' of a .ticket vreceiving',l valveV through which the'air'passe's following its pro-` pelling action on the ticketsandlpriorto its entering through thecasing ljvia tubing connection 23. According to this mechanism,'s upposing that the rotor wheel'is momentarily'stopped due to an overload on the pulley 36 `of the power take-off Vshaft 1 I6,r` under this condition the -iiy weightsfw and wl are caused fob-release the'drum 35 with the consequent resulting fsurgein-'the speedof the rotor wheel anditheconsequentfre-V clutching of ypulleyASI so as toi overcome any load within predetermined limits. Itendirigto slow or stopthe operation-v of "the :rotor wheel. f

Upon the manualA operatonof knob 3I- the wheel 25 is moved away from the rotor wheel I3 thus causing a decrease in its velocity due to eddy current formed in the space between the adjustable wheel 25 and the rotor wheel I3, the adjustable movement of wheel 25 toward the rotor wheel I3 being limited as above mentioned by the stop afforded by the collar 21 of cone 26.

In the modication of the turbine of the invention as shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 the adjustable wheel consists of a rubber ring R united to two metallic discs M and MI the ring R and the discs Y vM and MI having peripherally disposed registering serrations as C2 with the metallic disc MI keyed to the casing ID by a set screw 5I, while a worm52 keyed on one end of shaft 53 engages the serrations of metallic disc M for rotating the latter relative to metallic disc Ml and thereby imparting aV twisting movement to the rubber ring R, from the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6 to the position shown in Fig. '7 for changing the angle at whichv the streamsof airas directedby the serrations impinge onthe ns of rotor wheel I3-thus providingan adjustment "for controlling' thel operation ofl this wheel according tol pressure variationofthe air stream in' the ticket lsending tubes connecting lwith the` ticket receiving',"and sending valves,v the'stream offair passing through a tubing connectionl'TC4 formed with casingy I0 connected to other apparatusof the pneumatic system shown in Fig. 8 securedto the opposite end-of shaft 53 being providedwith a pointer 55 for movement on the face of the dial 56V carried bythe casing I0 for indicating the angle ofthe serrations of the rubber ring -Rv relative to lthe plane of the ns of rotor wheel I3 following each adjustment ofthe ring.

What is claimed is:` f i l 1. An air turbine Acomprising a rotor-wheel having `iin elements at its periphery, anadjustable wheel having screw threads forming' air pathsat its periphery for directing streams of air toward said fin elements for actuatingv said rotorv wheel,` and a rotatable worm operatively engaging said "screw threads for rotating said wheel'to'move it in different spaced -positions relative to l-said rotor wheel for 'controllingthe speed 'of the latter "acording' toy pressure lvaria-- tions-of the .air lstreams impfingingfon the fln elements of-said rotor whe/el.l fv

1 having iin* elements at its pe'riphery, f another wheellhaving screwthreads at its periphery vforming air paths, a casing'forminga housing-'for each of saidwheels and'- having" anai oiitlet path, a cover for saidvcas'ing having anll'et tubi ing vconnection centrally disposedforleading the air into` said casingr and f through said-screw threads for impingin'g onfthe fin elementsof' said rotor wheel Afor actuating' the latter, means fengaging said screw threads for movingthe'scf ond-mentioned wheel towardfa'nd away 'from' said rotor wheel'for controlling thespeed of fthe'l'at? ter, [a gearing mechanism i actuated' 'by 'said'v rotor wheel and a power ltake-'offA shaft -actfuatedyby saidgearing mechanism. *f

Sgen air turbine lcomprising a ro'torfgvheelV having viinmelementsfat itsL periphery, "a, wheel havingY screw threadsat its periphery fdr directing streams of air at an angle towardth of said rotor wheel for actuating itfnranally L actuating means operatively erigagingsaid screwthreads Vfor moving said Wheelfor 'clian'ging the angle of s'aid screwthreads relativevto thene1e-' ments of said Arotor for controllingthespeed" v'ofV ari'ationsu of the;

the latterV according 't0 Vps pee'd') air streams impinged on the n elements of said rotor wheel, and means set by the operation of said manually operable means for indicating the angle of said screw threads.

4. An air turbine comprising a rotor Wheel, an adjustable wheel disposed in axial alignment with said rotorwheel having iin elements at its periphery, a casing for housing said adjustable wheel and said rotor wheel, said adjustable wheel consisting of two metallic discs and a ring of elastic material placed between said discs and united thereto, means formed at the periphery of said discs and said ring forming air paths, means for securing one of said discs against rotation in said casing and manually operable means for rotating the other of said discs for twisting said elastic ring for changing the direction of said air paths relative to the fin elements carried by said rotor wheel.

5. In an air turbine, a casing, a cover cooperating with said casing to form a housing, a tubing connection formed with said cover, a screwthreaded hub having radial air paths formed with said cover opposite the tubing connection and concentric thereto, a wheel mounted in the casing in threaded engagement with said hub,' a bearing formed with said casing disposed coaxially to said screw-threaded hub, a rotor wheel having a shaft journaled in said bearing, said rotor wheel having a plurality of peripherally disposed iin members disposed at an angle relative to its plane of rotation, means carried by the first-mentioned wheel for directing the air from said tubing connection toward said n members for actuating said rotor Wheel, and a manually operable worm for rotating the rst-mentioned wheel on said screw-threaded hub for changing the space relation between this Wheel and said rotor wheel to cause a change in speed of the latter.

6. An air turbine comprising a rotor Wheel having ln elements at its periphery, an adjustable wheel having means at its periphery for d1- recting air streams at an angle relative to said fin elements for actuating said rotor wheel, a casing for housing said rotor wheel and said adjustable wheel, a cover for said casing having a screw-threaded hub portion for receiving said adjustable wheel, manually operable means for rotating said adjustable wheel on said hub for moving it toward and away from said rotor wheel for controlling the speed of the latter relative to pressure variation of the air impinging on said fin elements, a third wheel, a plurality of studs carried by said third wheel mounted for lateral sliding movement on said adjustable wheel, spring means disposed between said adjustable Wheel and said third wheel for holding the latter in adjusted position against said cover upon the movement of said adjustable wheel toward or away from said rotor wheel, and means carried by said third wheel for indicating the position of said adjustable wheel relative to said rotor wheel.

'7. In an air turbine, a rotor wheel having ns at its periphery, another wheel comprising a pair of discs having serrations at their peripheries and a ring of elastic material secured between said discs and having serrations at its periphery registering with the serrations at the peripheries of said discs to form air paths, a casing, a cover cooperating with said casing to form a housing for said Wheels, said cover having an inlet tubing connection for leading the air into said casing and through said air paths for impinging on the ns oi said rotor wheel for actuating the latter, means for securing one of said discs against movement in said casing, a worm engaging the serrations of the other of said discs, manually operable means for rotating said worm for rotating the last-mentioned disc relative to the other disc to cause a twisting movement ofsaid ring for changing the direction 0f said air paths and thereby the direction of the air streams impinging on the fins of said rotor wheel for controlling the operation of the latter, and means set by the operation of said worm for indicating the angle of said air paths relative to the ns of said rotor wheel.

EDGAR W. GENT. 

